Morning Song – Higher Ground

I think Stevie Wonder would like this video of “Higher Ground”…which is reason enough to post it.

Playing for Change is a multimedia music project whose purpose is to “inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music”.  Much of its work involves bringing together—sometimes physically, but more often (as here) through the miracle of modern recording technology—street musicians from around the world to perform together.

So there’s not only the “oh wow, that’s cool” effect of musicians from different continents playing “together”.  There’s also the pleasure of watching musicians from Italy, Senegal, Japan, the Netherlands, Mali, France, South Africa and the USA making music as they listen to each other.

Morning Song – Ants Marching

Another Monday morning, another work week, another day back into the routine.  “Ants Marching” is not only the Dave Matthews Band’s signature song and one of the better musical takes in the past generation or so about the rat race that daily life can be.  It’s also a reminder that the world needs more soprano sax/violin solos.

What shall we talk about this week?

Noted Without Comment: The Birds And The Bees Edition…Well…Okay, Just The Bees

Morning Song – Sweet, Sweet Spirit

Since it’s Pentecost Sunday, there are thousands of churches that will be singing “Sweet, Sweet Spirit” this morning.  Here’s composer (arranger, producer, singer, and gospel music legend) Doris Akers with her version.

The Groove Merchant

Part of what’s fun about listening to the Thad Jones – Mel Lewis Orchestra at the height of its powers—as in this 1968 live video of “The Groove Merchant”—is the fun they were having making the music.  Check out the reactions (at about 2:20 and 6:20 respectively) to the gorgeous and playful solos of pianist Roland Hanna and bassist Richard Davis by band leader Thad Jones and the other musicians .

The band is what it started out as:  a bunch of New York’s best jazz musicians looking to have some fun on Monday nights (the slowest night of the week for music clubs, many are closed) when they came home off the road.  Yes, they wanted to please the audience and get paid, but they also were the kind of band that played so that they could have fun too.

Whatever you’re doing today, here’s hoping you get to make some fun with it.

The Other Big Dig In Boston

Many thanks to the editors of Commonweal for offering the opportunity to write for the magazine about the effort underway within the archdiocese of Boston to reorganize its ministry for the 21st century, and for shaping and improving the piece* that just went up on their website.

Here’s a taste to whet your appetite:

Last fall, the Archdiocese of Boston released an ambitious plan designed to stem the decline it has experienced—in priests, Mass attendance, and treasure—since the 2002 wave of sexual-abuse scandals. The plan, called “Disciples in Mission,” will be phased in throughout Boston’s 288 parishes over five years. Cardinal Seán O’Malley hopes it will not only slow the decline of the archdiocese—some of it self-inflicted, some caused by powers beyond its control—but will also create the conditions for eventual growth. Whether the plan will work remains an open question. That something needs to be done is a sentiment shared widely among Boston-area Catholics.

Go here to subscribe to Commonweal, and here if you’d simply like to support the work of America’s premier lay Catholic liberal magazine of ideas, politics and culture.

*Yes, all remaining mistakes are my own.

Noted Without Comment: Citizen Of Two Nations Edition